Hi, Noob here, hope this is an interesting and not a stupid question. I have a short garden backing onto woodland, and we have a major problem with squirrels damaging the lawn and flower beds. I have an air rifle and a catapult, and have shot several in my garden in the past, but there’s a public footpath close by in the woods and I don’t want to get into trouble. Plus, I don’t really like shooting them, so no flaming please… I’m wondering would a reasonably powerful laser pointer give a squirrel enough of a burn or a scare to make it think twice about coming into my garden? I know they are quick learners
Thanks in advance

Have you considered a dog? There are many better way's than trying to burn one with a laser (Im an avid squirl Hunter, usually go weekly at our property so I've "beefed" with squirls many times lol).

Also have you got yourself a fake predatory bird (owl or hawk, get whatever you have there)?

Another idea that's slightly more indepth (and again 100% safe) is to get a cheap motion sensor light, a light socket to outlet adapter (screw in base so you can plug something into the socket) and set that up out there so the motion sensor points at where they come from. After that you can get a noise maker- either something like a small squalk box or record a dog barking) and the motion sensor light will switch that on. (You don't want it to run all the time cause it'll drive you crazy and they'll get use to it).

Yes a decent (>50mw) laser can scare off squirrels. They come right back. It works for birds but they come back too. I used to do it until I realized it could blind them and it was a retarded thing to do.